His Family · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for His Family by Ernest Poole.
Chapter 1
Dedication
A brief dedication of the book to M. A.
Chapter 2
His Family
Roger Gale reflects on the changing landscape of New York and his family's place within it. He dines with his daughter Laura, whose upcoming wedding disrupts the household. His other daughter Deborah confides about her relationship with Joe Bolini and immerses herself in school work. Roger discusses Deborah with Allan Baird, while Edith rejoices at Deborah's engagement. The chapter also covers the tragic death of Bruce in a car accident and George comforting his mother afterward.
Chapter 3
I
Roger Gale, a rugged man nearing sixty, reflects on his life while playing chess with his daughter Edith. He recalls his youth in New Hampshire, his move to New York, his marriage to Judith, the death of their infant son, Judith's own death, and his subsequent spiritual crisis. After years of emotional numbness, he begins to re-engage with life through his daughters, especially Deborah and Laura. The chapter establishes his deep sense of unfinished lives and his struggle to fulfill a promise to his late wife.
Chapter 4
Chapter II
Roger Gale lies in bed, reflecting on his children—Edith's pregnancy, Bruce's relentless work, Deborah's teaching in the tenements, and Laura's wild behavior—and resolves to know them better. Later, Deborah returns home and they discuss Bruce's engineering, George's mischief with a rat, and Deborah's progressive educational ideas, which Roger finds unsettling. After Deborah plays the piano to relax, Roger secures the house and goes to bed, contemplating the encroaching modern city.
Chapter 5
III
Roger Gale attempts to connect with his daughter Laura by discussing modern books and plays, but she is preoccupied with her own news. She reveals her engagement to Harold Sloane, a young broker, and introduces him to Roger, who feels a mix of tenderness, remorse, and anxiety about the match. The next evening, Laura dines with her father before going out, and Roger struggles with his perception of her as a symbol of the modern, fast-paced city life, feeling old and out of touch.
Chapter 6
IV
Roger breakfasts with Deborah and learns she went dancing with Allan Baird at the Astor Roof, where they encountered a flabbergasted Laura. Roger then reveals Laura's engagement to Harold Sloane. Deborah questions Laura and later accompanies Roger to a concert, where she speaks of the hungry army of youth. They visit Edith's home; Edith reacts with joy to Laura's engagement but worries about Deborah's ability to manage the household after Laura leaves. Roger feels a growing distance from Deborah and dreads the future.
Chapter 7
V
Roger Gale, preoccupied with his daughter Laura's engagement to Harold Sloane, withdraws from family dinner and takes a solitary walk into the ghetto, where he acquires an antique ring from a pawnshop. He later examines his extensive ring collection with the help of an old Galician jeweler, reflecting on the romance and mystery each piece holds. Deborah finds him and they discuss their shared unease about Laura's future, acknowledging their neglect of her. A few days later, Roger rides in the park, observing the vibrant social scene, but his thoughts return to Laura and the impending dinner with Sloane. When Sloane arrives, Roger nervously greets him, and the suitor bluntly asks for Laura's hand in marriage.
Chapter 8
VI
The Gale household adapts to Harold Sloane's presence as Laura's wedding approaches, drawing the family closer yet foreshadowing their eventual separation. Roger observes the generational shift and the pressures of modern life through his daughters' families: Edith's impending childbirth and Bruce's anxieties about raising children in the twentieth century. The chapter contrasts the innocence of childhood with adult worries, and explores themes of family bonds, mortality, and the relentless pace of modernity.
Chapter 9
VII
Roger Gale struggles with the chaos of Laura's wedding preparations, which disrupt his home and peace of mind. He visits his eldest daughter Edith, who criticizes Laura's modern views on marriage and childbearing, and warns that Deborah might try to move Roger out of the house. Amid the noise and confusion of the city, Roger resolves to talk to Laura about her plans, but feels increasingly isolated and uncertain about his children's divergent paths.
Chapter 10
VIII
Roger Gale settles into a quiet domestic life with Deborah after Laura's marriage, but his return to work reveals a transformed America of corporate competition and media saturation, prompting reflections on legacy and the loss of his son.
Chapter 11
Chapter IX
Roger Gale grows increasingly concerned about Deborah's pale appearance and distant demeanor. She eventually confides in him about Joe Bolini, a former student on death row for murder. Deborah's emotional account of visiting Joe and her reflections on the limits of her school work deeply affect Roger, leading to a long conversation about education, poverty, and the harsh realities of the city. Roger spends a sleepless night haunted by the impending execution and his own memories of charitable work.
Chapter 12
Deborah's Big Family
Roger Gale visits Deborah's public school in a crowded immigrant neighborhood, witnessing the chaotic yet vibrant reality of urban education. He observes the school's operations, from the band and marching children to the mothers seeking advice, and gains a new understanding of Deborah's work and the broader social challenges of the city.
Chapter 13
XI
Roger Gale visits Deborah's night school neighborhood, witnessing the vibrant, harsh life of tenement streets. He meets Mrs. Berry's dying husband and the ambitious cripple boy Johnny Geer, then visits the passionate librarian Isadore Freedom. The chapter culminates in a rooftop view where Roger feels a profound connection to the struggling masses and his daughter's mission.
Chapter 14
XII
Roger reflects on Isadore Freedom and Deborah's intense engagement with life, then witnesses Deborah suffer a severe health crisis. Dr. Allan Baird diagnoses nervous exhaustion and warns Roger that Deborah's work is pushing her toward a breakdown, revealing the depth of her maternal commitment to her students.
Chapter 15
XIII
Deborah recovers from her illness but remains determined to continue her demanding work at the school, despite her father Roger's pleas to take a rest. Roger's attempt to influence her through Edith backfires when Edith reveals a remark from Allan Baird about Deborah becoming an old woman at thirty-five, causing tension. Roger and Bruce discuss Baird's intentions, and Roger reflects on the relentless demands of the city's poor. Deborah dismisses Baird when he visits, showing her independence.
Chapter 16
XIV
Roger Gale returns to his family's ancestral farm with his daughter Deborah, experiencing a profound reconnection with his past and the natural world. Through conversations with Deborah about her educational work and solitary rides through the countryside, Roger grapples with memories of his own childhood, the legacy of his family, and a deepening sense of immortality through his descendants. The chapter culminates in a visionary moment where he feels the presence of his younger self and the enduring power of family bonds.
Chapter 17
XV
Roger returns to find Deborah consumed by her school work, leaving the household neglected. He becomes involved in the school's community activities, taking charge of a boys' club. He grows close to Johnny Geer, a crippled boy working in his office, and learns from Allan Baird that John has an incurable spinal disease. Roger supports John's ambition to become an architect and eventually invites him to live in the house, where John integrates smoothly with the servants.
Chapter 18
XVI
Roger Gale observes the divergent lives of his three daughters: Laura's luxurious and childless marriage, Edith's traditional domesticity, and Deborah's public career as a reformer. Family tensions rise as Laura's jealousy erupts, Edith disapproves of Deborah's publicity, and the sisters subtly influence Deborah's decision about marrying Allan Baird.
Chapter 19
Chapter XVII
Roger Gale observes the deepening relationship between his daughter Deborah and Doctor Allan Baird, as Baird's 'long waiting game' unfolds through his involvement in Deborah's school and the establishment of a free clinic and maternity hospital. Despite Deborah's resistance and focus on her career, Baird persists, shifting his approach to include social outings and dancing, while Roger grapples with his own meddling and the complexities of modern love and work.
Chapter 20
Chapter XVIII
Deborah's educational experiment triumphs as the Board of Education votes to expand her program, and she and Allan Baird discuss marriage and the balance between her work and family life. Roger Gale, initially anxious, finds peace in the prospect of Deborah and Allan living with him, sensing a quiet, stable future for his household.
Chapter 21
XIX
Edith rejoices at Deborah's engagement to Allan Baird, and the family discusses the wedding plans and Deborah's future. Bruce and Edith resolve to become closer to the couple, leading to a series of joyful outings. After attending The Follies of 1914, Bruce insists on fixing his car despite rain, and a sudden crash outside the taxi suggests a tragic accident.
Chapter 22
Chapter XX
Bruce Cunningham is fatally injured in a car accident. As he lies dying, he arranges his affairs, appointing Allan Baird as executor and expressing his love for his family. Deborah and Roger Gale rush to be with him, and Bruce's final moments are marked by a desperate struggle to hold on to life.
Chapter 23
Chapter XXI
In the aftermath of Bruce's sudden death, Roger Gale moves through a stupor of grief and practical arrangements. Deborah takes charge of the funeral and finances, revealing Bruce left five thousand dollars in debts. Roger agrees to have Edith and her children move into his home. Edith, though composed, is bitter and plans to retreat to the mountains. Laura arrives, vibrant and self-absorbed, while John offers to work without pay in Bruce's office. Roger reflects on the senselessness of the accident, the shifting center of his family, and his own mortality.
Chapter 24
Chapter XXII
Roger Gale, after a night of brooding, resolves to focus on practical matters, particularly settling Bruce's affairs. Madge Deering offers to accompany Edith and the children to the mountains. Roger feels a growing sense of change in his home as Deborah plans her wedding for the end of August, and he struggles with financial pressures from Bruce's debts and the cost of raising five children. He works hard, cuts down on indulgences, and finds companionship and distraction in his office assistant, Johnny Geer, who has been drumming up business from petty criminals wanting newspaper clippings. Roger rebukes Johnny for this scheme but raises his salary and offers him a month off, which Johnny partially declines. Roger then departs for the farm.
Chapter 25
XXIII
Roger Gale returns to the farm after Bruce's death and finds the family struggling with grief and change. George has matured, taking on responsibilities and comforting his mother Edith. Roger observes Edith's fierce planning for her children's future and her resistance to Deborah's impending visit, which he fears will cause tension. Amidst the family dynamics, Roger reflects on the generational cycle of loss and the smallness of human troubles against the backdrop of nature's permanence.
Chapter 26
Chapter XXIV
As World War I erupts in Europe, Roger Gale faces financial ruin and must decide whether to close his business, while Deborah Gale argues passionately for social responsibility and postpones her marriage to Allan Baird.
Chapter 27
XXV
Roger Gale, burdened by financial worries and Deborah's moral appeal, finds temporary diversion in the return of Laura and Harold from war-torn Europe, who recount their adventurous escape and lucrative war profiteering. Roger is torn between relief at their wealth and guilt over their callousness, while Deborah's relentless work for tenement children reminds him of his own pioneer heritage.
Chapter 28
XXVI
Edith arrives at her father's house with her five children after Bruce's death. Roger reveals his financial troubles due to the war, forcing Edith to let go of her nurse Hannah and send her children to public school. Edith struggles to manage the household and educate her children herself, feeling the crushing weight of poverty and grief.
Chapter 29
Chapter XXVII
Roger observes the strained dynamics in his household as Deborah and Edith struggle to connect. He reflects on the generational and ideological divide between his daughters, while also watching his grandchildren George and Elizabeth navigate their own loyalties. Deborah prepares to leave for a meeting at Cooper Union, and Edith announces she has let Hannah go to save money, further highlighting the tensions between tradition and modernity.
Chapter 30
XXVIII
Roger Gale reads war news and reflects on humanity's immaturity, then learns from Edith that John has tuberculosis and must leave the house, leading to a tense confrontation.
Chapter 31
XXIX
Roger decides to tell Deborah about Edith's concerns regarding John's health. Deborah, flushed with triumph from a successful mass meeting, takes charge of the situation and agrees to tell John he must leave. The conversation shifts to Deborah and Allan's strained relationship, culminating in a tense but ultimately reaffirming exchange about love, debt, and their shared work. Roger reflects on the evening and recalls a serene vision of the city from a tower.
Chapter 32
A Season of Quiet
Roger Gale enjoys a period of domestic peace and routine with his daughter Edith and her family. He resolves conflicts, reestablishes school for the children, and begins a nightly reading ritual with Edith, while his business and spirits improve.
Chapter 33
XXXI
Roger Gale worries about his daughter Laura's increasingly rebellious and modern attitudes, which clash with the family's traditional values. Laura's marriage to Harold Sloane is in crisis, and she reveals to Deborah that she is seeking a divorce, accusing her husband of hypocrisy and using a detective against her. Deborah, caught between her own ideals and Laura's turmoil, struggles to reconcile her sister's actions with her own views on love and independence.
Chapter 34
XXXII
Laura arrives at the Gale home seeking refuge from her troubled marriage. Deborah informs her father, Roger, that Laura is divorcing her husband and plans to remarry. Roger struggles with the news, reflecting on his own past and the judgment of his late wife Judith. He confronts Laura in her darkened room, reluctantly accepting her decision while forbidding her from seeing the other man. The chapter ends with Roger alone, wrestling with his conscience and the encroaching pressures of modern urban life on his family.
Chapter 35
XXXIII
Roger Gale watches Laura return to her carefree, defiant self after her marital troubles, while Edith grows increasingly hostile. Laura eventually leaves a goodbye note and departs to join her lover in Italy, leaving Roger feeling old and defeated.
Chapter 36
XXXIV
Roger Gale struggles with financial strain and family tensions as his daughters Deborah and Edith clash over household economies and differing worldviews. Deborah advocates for progressive social reform and fiscal efficiency, while Edith clings to traditional domestic standards. Their bitter argument reveals deep ideological rifts. Roger, feeling the weight of modernity encroaching on his home, contemplates selling his ring collection to cover debts. The chapter also touches on Laura's departure and Roger's attempts to reconcile with Edith.
Chapter 37
XXXV
Bruce falls gravely ill with pneumonia, forcing Edith to call in Doctor Lake over Deborah's objections. The crisis intensifies Deborah's internal conflict about marrying Allan Baird, as she realizes she would sacrifice everything for her own child, mirroring Edith's devotion. She breaks off their engagement, but Allan refuses to accept her decision.
Chapter 38
XXXVI
Roger Gale, believing he has less than a year to live, confronts his daughter Deborah about her decision not to marry Allan Baird. He argues passionately that she will regret choosing a solitary life of work over family and love, and he reveals his plan to set her free in a way that he hopes will frighten her into accepting Baird. After a tense and emotional conversation, Deborah agrees to think it over, though she refuses to accept that her father is dying.
Chapter 39
Chapter XXXVII
Deborah consults her father's physician, then informs her family of her decision to marry Allan Baird. The family prepares for the move to the farm, and Roger learns that his business is improving thanks to John's efforts. Deborah and Allan marry in a simple ceremony, and Roger decides not to sell the house, offering it as a wedding gift. The chapter ends with Roger reflecting on the future and the ring he will give Deborah.
Chapter 40
XXXVIII
Roger Gale travels with Edith and her children to their new home in rural New England, reflecting on the tension between preserving old traditions and embracing new ideas. He encourages his grandson George to pursue modern farming methods and education, while George eagerly plans to transform the family farm with innovative techniques, despite the cautious advice of old-timer Dave Royce.
Chapter 41
XXXIX
Roger returns to his office and home, finding John transformed into a confident businessman and Deborah happily expecting a child. The chapter highlights Deborah's continued dedication to her educational work and the integration of her public mission into their home life, as she prepares for both motherhood and her broader responsibilities.
Chapter 42
XLI
Deborah Gale gives birth to a son, named after her father Roger, after a difficult labor that endangers both mother and child. The chapter explores Roger's reflections on the birth, Deborah's fierce maternal instincts when the infant falls ill, and her eventual recovery and acceptance of her new role as a mother, while still feeling connected to her work and the larger family of students she served.
Chapter 43
XLII
John, who has been quietly staying in the house during Deborah's illness, finally reveals his own failing health. Roger discovers John's selfless dedication and, recognizing him as a son, offers to adopt him. John dies, leaving a poignant will bequeathing his crutches to Deborah's school.
Chapter 44
Chapter XLIII
Roger Gale, in declining health, sells his business and reflects on the transient nature of New York and his own life. He spends quiet days at home, observes the bustling city, and has poignant final interactions with his daughters Laura and Edith, finding peace in memories of his wife Judith and in the presence of Deborah and her baby.
Chapter 45
XLIV
Roger Gale experiences a vivid dream that traverses his family's past, present, and future, blending memories of his children with visions of conflict, suffering, and ultimately a vast procession of children marching toward a radiant sun, symbolizing renewal and the continuity of humanity.
